NHL draft: New N.J. Devil Josh Jacobs has Michigan State on his mind

July 2, 2014

Michigan State freshman Josh Jacobs / Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

By Chris Solari

Gannett Michigan

Josh Jacobs admits he keeps in touch with the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League. But the defenseman Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment to Michigan State.

“I love Michigan State, and I want to be a Spartan,” the Shelby Township native said during an interview with “Staudt on Sports” on Lansing’s WVFN-AM (730). “Right now, I’m looking at Michigan State and taking online classes here back at home. Michigan State, the Spartans, the university — everything like that is on my mind. So that’s what I’m planning on doing come the fall, being a Spartan.”

Jacobs, an incoming freshman, was selected in the second round of the NHL draft with the 41st overall pick by the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. The 6-foot-1¾, 193-pounder was the highest-picked Spartan since Daultan Leveille went to the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2008 first round.

Jacobs, 18, committed to MSU two years ago while playing for the HoneyBaked Hockey Club in Detroit. That summer, Sarnia selected Jacobs in the ’12 OHL draft.

MSU coach Tom Anastos said last weekend he expects Jacobs to be with his team in the fall and bypass major Canadian juniors.

The NHL Central Scouting Service rated Jacobs as the 43rd-best North American skater in the draft. In his second USHL season with Indiana this past winter, he had five goals, 18 assists and was a plus-37 in 56 games.

“That’s what I want to bring to the table at Michigan State,” said Jacobs, who plans to arrive in East Lansing in late August. “I want to be close with all my brothers there in the locker room, plus the coaching staff, and get on the roll with this season.”

Jacobs and his family were in Philadelphia to hear his name called at the draft. It was a fulfillment of his life-long dream.

“It was a great feeling to get drafted by the New Jersey Devils organization,” he said. “I just got back to planet earth pretty much right now.”